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Difference between Temptation and Seduction

Key difference: Essentially the main difference between the two words is that temptation is what the person feels, whereas seduction is what the other person or thing does. For example: the cupcake was seducing me with is fresh baked smell and I was just tempted to eat it.

Temptation and seduction are two words that have been often used interchangeably. Many do not even realize that they are different words with different contexts. Essentially temptation is the desire to do something which may be enjoyable to a person. The thing itself may or may not be forbidden in nature. In seduction, on the other hand, the thing is more often than not frowned upon.

Dictionary.com defines ‘tempt’ as:

To entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.

To attract, appeal strongly to, or invite: The offer tempts me.

To render strongly disposed to do something: The book tempted me to read more on the subject.

To put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke: to tempt one's fate.

Obsolete. To try or test.

‘Seduce’ is defined as:

To lead astray, as from duty, rectitude, or the like; corrupt.

To persuade or induce to have sexual intercourse.

To lead or draw away, as from principles, faith, or allegiance: He was seduced by the prospect of gain.

To win over; attract; entice: a supermarket seducing customers with special sales.

According to Wikipedia, “Temptation is the desire to perform an action that one may enjoy immediately or in the short term but will probably later regret for various reasons: legal, social, psychological (including feeling guilt), health-related, economic, etc.” Whereas, “seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person, to lead astray, as from duty, rectitude, or the like; to corrupt, to persuade or induce to engage in sexual behaviour.”

The word ‘temptation’ is often used in the context of food, especially referring to the desire to cheat on a diet. For example: the cake looks so tempting. The term, ‘seduction’ may or may not have a negative connotation; however, it has often come to represent sexual behavior.

Essentially the main difference between the two words is that temptation is what the person feels, whereas seduction is what the other person or thing does. For example: the cupcake was seducing me with is fresh baked smell and I was just tempted to eat it.

Temptation is the person’s urge. It may or may not be influenced by any outside factors. It is mainly just influenced by the person’s desire to do something. For example: All of a sudden, in the middle of the night, I was tempted to eat a cookie.

Whereas, seduction is when something or someone entices the person to do something by appearing attractive. For example: The ad for the car was so seducing that I just had to get one.

Further examples of temptation:

The temptation of the cupcake is too hard to resist.

The book tempted me to read more on the subject.

The music was so enthralling that I was tempted to dance.

The offer of 50% off tempts me.

The best artists may tempt people to buy a whole album.

Perhaps she ought to count this as victory enough and not tempt fate by trying to engineer a rescue without a default.